Benjamin Mendy 'had meltdown when he arrived in jail awaiting rape trial

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy allegedly had a meltdown after he arrived in prison because he mistakenly thought he would be housed in a 'VIP wing'.  

The 27-year-old, who is charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three people, was told by guards he would be placed in the VP wing for vulnerable prisoners after he arrived at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool on Friday.

However the footballer mistakenly assumed he would be housed in a VIP wing for celebrity figures at the Category B jail and was left experiencing a 'rude awakening' when he realised this was not the case.

A source told: 'When Mendy arrived staff explained he was going to be kept on the VP wing for his own safety.'

They added: 'He had a rude awakening when he saw the cell and realised who he was going to be mixing with.

'He wasn't happy and it was a very sobering experience for him.'

The footballer who plays at left-back for the Premier League champions, was last week charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three people last week. 

Mendy, who also plays for the French national team, was immediately suspended by the club pending an investigation.